We do see cross-overs from time to time and this time we have one Jose Raymond, the former press secretary of Vivian Balakrishnan joining the ranks of SPP. The grass is apparently greener at Potong Pasir and Bishan-Toa Payoh.

PAP does not treat their defectors lightly – just look at how they treated Dr. Tan Cheng Bock. The government shifted the goalpost, so to speak, so as to deny Bocky of any chance of being the president.

Mr Raymond at 45 makes a political debut and has decided to no longer serve his former political masters. He may not pose a serious threat to the PAP for now, but gleaning from his Facebook posts, he seems confident that he can reinvigorate the waning SPP and help them regain a foothold in parliament, a feat that has only been achieved by the party’s founder Mr Chiam See Tong.

Mr. Raymond, who started volunteering with the SPP two months ago, has been participating in SPP’s initiatives in Bishan-Toa Payoh Group Representation Constituency and Potong Pasir SMC.

On January 18, the Facebook page of Singapore People’s Party (SPP) showed photos of Mr Steve Chia, long-time member of the National Solidarity Party (NSP) as well as Mr Jose Raymond, former Singapore Environment Council executive director. Mr Chia and Mr Raymond were wearing the party’s colors and were shown joining the party’s walkabouts along with chairman Lina Chiam and other members of the SPP.

Mr. Raymond was a journalist and served as press secretary to Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, former Minister for the Environment and Water Resources. He is currently finishing his master’s degree in Public Administration at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy. He is the vice president of the Singapore Swimming Association, and is also with the Chiam See Tong Sports Foundation as deputy chairman. The foundation is geared toward helping young people in need to better themselves through sports.

Mr. Raymond has not commented on his new party affiliation but said on Facebook: “It doesn’t matter which side of the political spectrum you belong to. It also doesn’t matter which party colour you support. It is also immaterial if you are pro-PAP or pro-Opposition. What’s most important is that we are pro-Singapore every time, all the time.”

I must disagree most vehemently with Mr Jose Raymond that it does not matter if one is a pro-PAP or pro-Opposition. Then, what is his stand? What is his political inclination? Without making himself clear for what he stands for, why he is joining an opposition party then, he is at best a fence sitter. Sad to say we do not need people like Mr Raymond to further confuse and be a plague to our already weak opposition parties! Regrettably, Mr Raymond is doing SPP a great disservice by becoming a member if the Party.

Roger S S Lim you have misunderstood the spirit of what Jose is saying. His words meant that Singapore’s interest should always be first above any parties’ interest. Let the party (whichever it might be) be a vehicle to serve the nation and Singaporeans. Not use it to serve own self interest and party members’ at the expense of Singaporeans and our nation’s future.

Yup, it’s a ‘Mom and pop’ operation as can be seen from the outside. Regardless of the people around, it’s still the allure of just the ‘pop’, Mr Chiam who can rally the folks around them, but now with even his star waning, it’s a hard kill to even gain back his following with whatever that’s left of the party….if he had stayed on in Potong Pasir, I’m sure that he would still have been their MP, given the kind of adoration that he had enjoyed when he first became their MP.

The trouble with our political parties including PAP is that they cannot even define which part of the political spectrum they belong to. Left wing, right wing, centrist, conservative, liberal, libertarian, communist, socialist, etc etc. That leaves us the voters confused as to who to vote for. As for being pro-Singapore, I am sure every one of them is pro-Singapore and pro-Singaporeans. Isn’t that only logical?

Actually through one of their fund raising events that I attended, I came to learn that the committee members of CST Sports Foundation are volunteers, Jose is not paid nor any of the members on that committee. The Foundation is truly a worthy cause for Singaporeans interest. Pls do not tarnish the good name and work of CST. Thanks

New face or not, SPP is doing a lot more, Already they deserve respect for that especially when comparing with a party that is happy with self-glorification about how old they are, and bunch of stuck up elitist candidates.

He is an ex civil servant, just like any employee. No rules to say he cannot involve in politics or join the opposition since he is no longer a civil servant. The comment that he defected is misleading.

I thk his intention is try and try to become minister. Best paying job. Suck ass and lick boots doesnt matter. I thk hes set up as mole and these new weeds out like ‘opp’ is just strategy to weaken votes and stir confusion. I thk sdp and wp have proven to be not a mole lets stick to those. Better if they merge as one party.

It’s only logical that all of us will say we are “pro-Singapore every time, all the time.” That’s what the Opposition parties say. That’s what the PAP says too. However, what they say is not always what they do. Bear in mind that not all acts, policies, laws etc enacted by the PAP government have been beneficial to Singaporeans. Some have been detrimental. Some have even been vindictive. To Mr Jose Raymond, let’s call a spade a spade. Not try to sugar coat it with patriotic sentiments.

Fellow Singaporeans….be wary of character assassination by PAP. They r very good at this game. Don’t fall for this. Give support to those who dare to ask d hard questions n expose d incompetence of our policy makers

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